Presidential Instruction on Enggano Island Development: A Swift Government Response to the Aspirations of Outermost Island Residents
By: Fahreza Saifullah
(Environmental Observer)
The Indonesian government has taken a strategic step to accelerate development in the country’s outermost regions through the issuance of a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) on the acceleration of development on Enggano Island, located in Bengkulu Province. This Inpres was issued as a response to various issues faced by the local community, particularly the isolation caused by limited sea transportation access. This situation has driven the government to adopt acceleration policies to support connectivity and equitable development in regions that lie at the geographical frontiers of the Republic of Indonesia.
This move by the President is not only a response to the current conditions but also a demonstration of commitment to the principle of equitable development. Enggano Island has long faced major challenges in terms of connectivity. Siltation at Pulau Baai Port has severely disrupted ship access, directly impacting the social and economic life of Enggano’s residents. Under normal conditions, sea transport is the only primary link connecting Enggano to the mainland. However, due to increasing shallowness of the port, ferries can no longer dock, cutting off the island’s vital logistical and mobility lifeline.
The government did not remain idle. According to Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, after a coordination meeting between legislative and executive bodies, and intensive communication among various parties, the President promptly took concrete action by issuing the Inpres. This action reflects a leadership approach that is swift and non-bureaucratic. Rather than waiting for drawn-out administrative processes, the President chose to act quickly so that solutions could be implemented without delay. For the people of Enggano, who have long held onto hope, this marks the beginning of seeing real attention from the state regarding their fate.
This decision has been widely appreciated. Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD RI), Sultan B. Najamudin, stated that the President’s decision is a long-awaited strategic move for the residents of the outermost islands. Far from being merely symbolic, the Inpres activates ministries and institutions to coordinate more effectively in realizing accelerated development. The expected impact goes beyond resolving logistical bottlenecks—it also opens up opportunities for local economic development, especially in key sectors like fisheries, livestock, and agricultural products such as bananas, which have long struggled to reach markets due to transportation barriers.
Beyond physical access issues, this Inpres also serves as an instrument to address other fundamental service challenges, such as healthcare and education. With improved transportation, the mobility of medical personnel and distribution of health logistics become more feasible. Likewise, for the education sector, teachers and teaching materials—long difficult to bring to Enggano—will now be more consistently available. This shows that the government’s intention is not only physical infrastructure development but a sustained and quality-of-life-oriented approach.
The timing of this Inpres aligns with ongoing calls for the government to finalize the Island Regions Bill (RUU Daerah Kepulauan). This regulation would serve as a solid legal foundation for comprehensive and integrated development of outermost island regions. Support for this bill becomes increasingly relevant as the central government demonstrates its seriousness in addressing real-world cases like Enggano. In other words, when national policy is coupled with appropriate legal instruments, development in peripheral areas will no longer be an empty discourse.
Of course, the success of the Inpres’s implementation hinges on follow-up by stakeholders at both the national and local levels. A presidential instruction is not merely an administrative order—it is a political signal that regional isolation must not be allowed to persist. It is time for development to no longer be concentrated in traditional growth centers, but also directed toward achieving more equitable regional balance. In this regard, Enggano is a strategic starting point to showcase that commitment.
Enggano’s geographical location, roughly 90 nautical miles from Bengkulu City, indeed presents challenges, but that is no excuse to categorize it as a neglected region. With proper planning and focused execution, Enggano could become a model for sustainable small-island development. President Prabowo’s decision demonstrates a forward-looking vision in which outermost regions are empowered to contribute to food security, maritime connectivity, and national territorial stability.
This show of commitment toward Enggano also sends an important message to other islands in Indonesia facing similar challenges. It sets a precedent that the nation will not turn a blind eye to the hardships of its people in frontier regions. If Enggano can receive serious attention from the highest levels of government, then the hope for other islands to be treated similarly is no longer just a dream.
With the issuance of the Inpres to accelerate Enggano’s development, President Prabowo underscores that no region will be left behind in Indonesia’s development agenda. This step is not only a solution to a technical issue in one region but also part of a broader strategy to reinforce sovereignty, justice, and prosperity in a single, unified policy breath. The government has charted the course—now it is the duty of all national elements to ensure that the policy truly reaches the people and delivers meaningful impact.
